eless coal where it could
be obtained by the blockade runners.

Christy had been on the blockade; and he had been in action with a
steamer from the other side of the ocean; and he knew that this black
smoke of the soft coal, exclusively used by English steamers, was a
telltale in regard to such vessels. It had been an idea of his own to
take in a supply of this kind of fuel, for while its smoke betrayed the
character of vessels intending to run the blockade, the absence of it
betrayed the loyalty of the national steamers to the blockade runners.
It was a poor rule that would not work both ways, and the commander of
the Bronx had determined to adopt the scheme he had now put in force on
board of his vessel. Although the craft on the starboard bow could
hardly be distinguished in the fog, Christy had sent a trusty seaman
aloft to report on the color of the smoke that issued from her funnel.

This man had reported by swinging his cap in the air, as the captain had
instructed him to do if he found that the smoke was that of soft coal.
If there was no black smoke, he was to return to the deck without making
any sign. The moment therefore that the man had been able to see the
quality of the smoke, the commander was made as wise as though he had
seen it himself. The information left him no doubt that the steamer was
intended to run the blockade; but whether or not she was one of the
expected pair, of course he could form no opinion, for already this part
of the ocean had begun to swarm with vessels in this service.

"I am beginning to make her out a little better," said Flint, who had
been straining his eyes to the utmost capacity, as everybody else on
board was doing, to obtain the best and earliest information in regard
to the stranger on the starboard bow.

"What do you make out, Mr. Flint?" asked Christy, who was too busily
employed in watching the movements of the officers and seamen on his own
deck to give especial attention to the character of the other steamer.

"I can't see well enough yet to say anything in regard to details,"
replied the first lieutenant. "I can only make out her form and size;
and she seems to be as nearly like the Bronx as one pea is like another,
though I should say that she was longer."

"Is she in motion?" asked the captain with interest.

"She appears to be at rest, though it is possible that she is moving
very slowly; but if she has not stopped her screw, she is not going more
than fou